Slicing machine

ABSTRACT

A gravity feed slicing machine for slicing bacon, ham, meat and other edible products. The supports for the fence plate, knife and table are all mounted on a base member and enclosed within a detachable housing on the horizontal base member. This form of construction facilitates the assembly of the slicing machine. Further, the fence plate can be removed for cleaning and resecured in its correct position and setting by a user of the machine.

United States Patent 1 Richards et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 SLICING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Brynley Thomas Richards;

Bernard Desmond Battman, both of Merioneth, Wales [73] Assignee: C. B. Metcalfe Food Machinery Ltd., Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth, Wales 221 Filed: July 6,1971

21 Appl.No.: 159,770

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 7, 1970 Great Britain 32,805/70 [52] US. Cl. 83/713 [51] Int. Cl A01d 55/18, B23d 19/00 [58] Field of Search 146/102 G, 102 H, 146/102 .1, 102 R; 143/174; 83/467, 468,

[56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ducourneau 146/1031! Wood 146/102 J Kalb 83/628 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-John Sipos Att0rneyWoodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A gravity feed slicing machine for slicing bacon, ham, meat and other edible products. The supports for the fence plate, knife and table are all mounted on a base member and enclosed within a detachable housing on the horizontal base member. This form of construction facilitates the assembly of the slicing machine. Further, the fence plate can be removed for cleaning and resecured in its correct position and setting by a user of the machine.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SLICING MACHINE The present invention relates to a slicing machine for slicing bacon, hams, meat, bread and other edible products.

Slicing machines basically comprise three components, namely, a rotatable knife, a fence plate which is sometimes referred to as a thickness plate, and a table for receiving a product to be sliced. The knife is preferably rotatable by an electric motor and the fence plate is arranged parallel to and displaceable normal to the cutting plane of the knife. The position of the fence plate governs the thickness of slices cut by the knife, this being determined by the gap between the knife and the fence plate in the plane normal to the cutting plane of the knife. The table is reciprocable, either manually or by a power source, to carry the product from the fence plate on to the knife for cutting a slice and then returning the product back on to the fence plate prior to cutting a further slice.

In existing gravity feed slicing machines, that is machines wherein the product to be cut into slices is directed by its own weight on to the fence plate and knife, the means supporting the three basic components are mounted and journalled in bosses and lugs formed on the interior of the walls of a housing. In order to support the components, the housing generally is formed from a metal casting which can be stove enamelled. This known form of construction produces difficulties in the assembly of the slicer as all operations must be carried out within the interior of the housing. In use, the enamel can become chipped resulting in unsightly machines.

In order to comply with strict standards of cleanliness governing the use of slicing machines, it is desirable and often compulsory to wash the components of a slicing machine at the end of each working day. In an assembled slicing machine the three basic components referred to'above are mounted externally on the housing. In existing gravity feed slicing machines the knife and table are readily detachable for cleaning purposes but it is not recommended that the fence plate be removed as its mounting is such as to make it extremely difficult to re-assemble the fence plate in its correct position relative to the knife. As a rule, the fence plate is mounted and set by a manufacturer and thereafter it is not envisaged that this setting will be distrubed except by trained and experienced personnel. As the cleaning of a slicing machine is undertaken-by the user the result is that the fence plate is not removed from the machine and therefore cannot be washed thoroughly.

One object of the present invention is to provide a slicing machine which can be assembled without the difficulties encountered hitherto in existing gravity feed slicing machines having the components supported by a heavy housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slicing machine with a readily removable fence plate which can be removed for cleaning and washing and resecured in its correct position and setting by the user of the machine.

According to the present invention a slicing machine for slicing bacon, ham, meat and other edible products comprises a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife and selectively adjustable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the knife to vary the thickness of slices to be cut by the knife, the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced, a base member having supports for the fence plate, knife and table with a housing detachably secured to the base member to enclose the supports and means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to its respective support on the base member, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the housing.

The simplification of the operations involved in the assembly of a slicing machine resulting from providing the supports for the fence plate, knife and table on a base member leads to a reduction in the time required to complete a slicing machine and consequently a saving in manufacturing costs. As the housing is not now required to support and bear the components of the slicing machine it can be formed from a lightweight material, such as a moulded plastics material or fibreglass. The unsightliness of chipped paintwork is now avoided as the housing does not require painting or enamelling.

Preferably, the fence plate is releasably secured to its support by means of a non-circular lug on the undersurface thereof engageable in a recess of a corresponding configuration in the support, and a bore through the lug to receive a bolt co-operable with a threaded blind bore in the base of the recess. The lug projects through an opening in the housing to engage in the recess and it is a simple matter to disengage the bolt to release the fence plate for cleaning.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with. reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an assembled slicing machine;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the slicing machine showing a fence plate and rotatable knife in outline but with the table and housing removed;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the base plate; and

FIG. 4 shows a support for the fence plate, on an enlarged scale.

A slicing machine shown in FIG. 1 comprises three basic components, namely a rotatable knife 10, a fence plate 12 which is displaceable in the directions of arrow A at right angles to the plane of the knife 10, and a table 14 for carrying a product to be cut into slices and which is reciprocable in a plane normal to the plane of FIG. 1. The three components are mounted exteriorly of a housing or cover 16 which encloses supports and drive members to be described hereinafter. As the housing 16 does not itself support any of the components but merely serves as a cover it can be formed from a light-weight material such as molded plastic or fibreglass.

FIG. 2 shows the slicing machine with the housing 16 and table 14 removed but with the fence plate 12 and knife 10 outlined in broken lines.

A horizontal base plate 18 having an elevated rear portion 20 and elevated side portions 22 supports the mountings and drive means for the components. A spindle 24 which is carried at each end in blocks 26 mounted on the elevated side portions 22 extends across substantially the full width of the base plate 18. A runner 28 is slidably journalled on the spindle 24 and as shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a guide 30 which engages a guide rail 32. The guide rail is disposed to project beyond the front edge of the elevated rear portion 20 of the base plate. Alternatively, the guide 30 can be provided with a roller (not shown) to run on the guide rail 32. Extending outwardly from the front of the runner 28 is a bolt 34 which receives a support leg 36 of the table 14. The runner is reciprocable to and fro along the spindle 24 to reciprocate the table across the fence plate and knife. The table can be moved backwards and forwards either manually or by a power source. To assist in the manual operation the support leg 36 can be provided with a handle. Coil springs 38 at each end of the spindle serve as buffers to arrest the end movements of the runner. The guide 30 ensures that the runner and hence the table are reciprocable in a constant straight line and takes up any radial play of the runner on the spindle.

The rotatable knife is formed with a recessed centre region 40 extending over a greater part of its diameter. The knife is secured by screws 42 to a boss 43 of a pulley 44. The pulley 44 is located within the housing 16 and the boss 43 extends through an opening formed in the housing 16. As shown in FIG. 1 this opening is sealed by a sealing ring 46 located around the boss to prevent particles of a product being sliced from falling into the interior of the housing. I

The pulley 44 is mounted for rotation upon a support 48 secured to the elevated rear portion 20. The knife 10, boss 43, pulley 44 and support 48 are provided with a coaxial bore 50 to receive a spindle of a centre plate 52. The spindle is of such a length as to protrude beyond the side of the housing 16 remote from the knife 10 and this protruding end is threaded to receive a locknut 54. The centre plate fits within the recess 40 and encloses the periphery of the knife which is remote from the fence plate, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 2. In its operative position the centre plate is substantially co-planar with the cutting edge of the knife to provide a stationary surface to receive the product being sliced as it moves across the knife cutting edge. An end of an arcuate portion of the centre plate overlapping the knife edge carries a fixing screw 56 for receiving a grinding attachment for sharpening the cutting edge.

The knife is driven from an electric motor 58 by a belt drive passing over a pulley 68 on the motor shaft and the pulley 44. The motor is switched on and off by a switch 62 located on a side of the housing 16 (FIG. 1 A safety device (not shown) in the form of a microswitch adapted to be actuated by a stepped portion of the spindle of the centre plate 52 serves to cut out the motor 58 when the spindle is displaced longitudinally. Thus should the centre plate be displaced outwardly away from the knife the motor will trip automatically. When the centre plate, which forms a knife guard, is removed the slicer motor 58 cannot be started.

The fence plate support comprises a pair of spaced apart triangular blocks 64 arranged on the elevated portion immediately to the rear of one end of the spindle 24. A pin or rod 66 projects upwardly from the inclined front face of each block 64. An'inverted, substantially U-shaped block or shoe 68 is slidable on the rods 66 (FIG. 4). A cam 70 is secured for rotation to a shaft 72 joumalled in a block 74 and the cam is positioned between the limbs of the inverted U-shaped shoe 68. The cam carries a pin 76 which is slidable in a groove 78 cut in the surface of one limb of the shoe 68 facing the cam. The shaft 72 extends through the housing 16 and is provided with an actuating knob 80 which can be marked in scale graduations corresponding to different slice thicknesses. Upon rotating the knob' 80 the pin 76 slides along the groove 78 to move the U- shaped shoe along the rods 66 to displace the fence plate.

FIG. 4 shows the manner in which the fence plate is detachably secured to the U-shaped shoe. The under surface of the fence plate carries a retainer 82 (FIG. 1) which in turn carries a lug 84. The lug is of elongated section to correspond and fit into an elongated recess 86 in the opposing face of the shoe. A bore through the retainer and lug receives a bolt 88 which is cooperable with a threaded bore 90 in the'base of the recess 86. The fence plate is thus secured to the shoe 68 for displacement with the latter upon rotation of the shaft 72. The fence plate is removed for cleaning by removal of the bolt 88 and can only be reassembled in its correct position due to the configuration of the lug 84 and recess 86.

In use, a product to be sliced such as a ham, is placed upon the table 14 to rest upon the fence plate 12. The table 14 is provided with a weight 92 slidable along a rod 94 secured to a side plate 96 of the table. The weight which can have spikes on the face thereof contacting the product bears against the product to urge the product on to the fence plate. The table can be provided with a detachable transparent extension to partially enclose the product. The fence plate is set to give the required thickness of slices to be cut and the table is moved to and fro to slice the product. Conveniently, the fence plate, centre plate and table are constructed from aluminium alloy castings which are non-corrosive and suitable for direct contact with edible products. Corrugations are provided on the surfaces of the fence plate, centre plate and table which contact a product so as to assist in the feeding and slicing of the product.

The invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in existing gravity feed slicing machines. All supports and actuating mechanisms for the three basic components are carried on the horizontal base plate 18. The fence plate is removable for washing and cleaning. The housing 16 does not support any of the components and is fitted over the assembly on the base plate. The housing is detachably secured to the base plate by screw 98 which engage threaded bores in the sides of the base plate. After fitting the housing on the base plate, the knife, fence plate and table are secured to their supports. It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular arrangement shown in the drawings or a particular shape of housing. Thus, for example, the knife can be driven by two belts instead of a single belt as illustrated. The On/ Off switch can be combined with a neon lamp to provide a visual indicator as a further safety feature. Other assembly layouts are possible also and the shape of the housing can be modified to suit different design requirements.

We claim: I

1. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible products, comprising:

a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife, and the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced;

a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member and enclosing said supports;

means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective one of said supports on the base member, for permitting each of the fence plate, table and knife to be individually disconnected from said base member and removed from said machine, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover;

the support for the fence plate including means mounting said fence plate on said base member for permitting selective movement of said fence plate relative to said base member in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife; and

the cover being formed from a light-weight material and being free of weight-bearing support for the knife, fence plate and table.

2. A slicing machine according to claim 1 in which the mounting means for the fence plate includes a pair of parallel rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channelshaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover.

3. A slicing machine according to claim 1 in which the cover is formed from moulded fibreglass or plastics material.

4. A slicing machine according to claim 1, including motor means drivingly connected to said knife for rotating same, said motor means being mounted on said base member and totally enclosed within said cover.

5. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible products, comprising:

a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife and selectively adjustable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the knife, the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced;

a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member to enclose the supports;

means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective support on the base member, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover;

the support for said fence plate including a pair of parallel rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channel-shaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover; and

a cam disposed in the interior of said cover and located within the channel-shaped block, a shaft extending to the exterior of the cover, said cam being fixed for rotation with the shaft, and a projecting pin on the cam engageable in a slot in an opposing face of the block such that on rotation of the shaft the block is displaced along the rods thereby to vary the spacing between the plane of the fence plate and the plane of the knife.

6. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible product's, comprising:

a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife and selectively adjustable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the knife, the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced;

a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member to enclose the supports;

means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective support on the base member, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover;

the support for said fence plate including a pair of parallel rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channel-shaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover; and

a projection of non-circular section on the undersurface of the fence plate, said projection projecting through said cover and being engageable in a recess of a corresponding configuration in the block, and a bolt extending through the projection and cooperable with a threaded blind bore in the base of the recess, the head of said bolt being positioned exteriorly of said cover. 

1. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible products, comprising: a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife, and the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced; a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member and enclosing said supports; means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective one of said supports on the base member, for permitting each of the fence plate, table and knife to be individually disconnected from said base member and removed from said machine, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover; the support for the fence plate including means mounting said fence plate on said base member for permitting selective movement of said fence plate relative to said base member in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife; and the cover being formed from a light-weight material and being free of weight-bearing support for the knife, fence plate and table.
 2. A slicing machine according to claim 1 in which the mounting means for the fence plate includes a pair of paralleL rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channel-shaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover.
 3. A slicing machine according to claim 1 in which the cover is formed from moulded fibreglass or plastics material.
 4. A slicing machine according to claim 1, including motor means drivingly connected to said knife for rotating same, said motor means being mounted on said base member and totally enclosed within said cover.
 5. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible products, comprising: a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife and selectively adjustable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the knife, the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced; a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member to enclose the supports; means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective support on the base member, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover; the support for said fence plate including a pair of parallel rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channel-shaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover; and a cam disposed in the interior of said cover and located within the channel-shaped block, a shaft extending to the exterior of the cover, said cam being fixed for rotation with the shaft, and a projecting pin on the cam engageable in a slot in an opposing face of the block such that on rotation of the shaft the block is displaced along the rods thereby to vary the spacing between the plane of the fence plate and the plane of the knife.
 6. A slicing machine for slicing meat and other edible products, comprising: a fence plate, a rotatable knife and a table, the fence plate being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife and selectively adjustable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the knife, the table being reciprocable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the knife to carry a product to be sliced; a base member, supports mounted on said base member and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a cover detachably secured to the base member to enclose the supports; means for releasably securing each of the fence plate, knife and table to a respective support on the base member, the releasable securing means being accessible from the exterior of the cover and projecting through the cover for attachment to the respective supports, whereby the plate, table and knife can be readily removed from said machine by manipulations performed exteriorly of said cover; the support for said fence plate including a pair of parallel rods secured to the base member and extending in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the knife, and an inverted substantially channel-shaped block slidably mounted on said rods, the rods and the block being disposed within the interior of said cover; and a projection of non-circular section on the undersurface of the fence plate, said projection projecting through said cover and being engageable in a recess of a corresponding configuration in the block, and a bolt extending through the projection and cooperable with a threaded blind bore in the base of the recess, the head of said bolt Being positioned exteriorly of said cover. 